Malawi’s State President Mrs. Joyce Banda has been named one of 100 Africa’s most influential people.

The recognition by a United Kingdom published Pan African Magazine, New African, comes barely two months after she was nominated among the top five contending for the Forbes Africa Person of the Year Award in October, 2012 and being 2012 Africa Most Inspirational Female Leader of the year Award by Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD), in New York, USA.

The acknowledgment which is in the December issue of the magazine indicates that JB is among “a limited selection of movers and shakers on the continent, a person with an increasing global influence.” It reads.

According to the magazine, Malawi president’s selection to be among the greats is due to her accomplishments and reforms that she has made boldly.

President Banda: Influential

“Due to her outspoken views against corruption and bad governance in Africa as well as her defence of the protection of women’s rights, Joyce Banda’s ascent to the highest office in the land, in April, has been one of the most interesting, closely watched and scrutinized.

She already carries the tag ‘gutsy leader’ for taking some bold decisions that her predecessor and other African heads of state would never dare take. She famously cancelled an AU Summit in Malawi, rather than allow Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir to attend.

When she made a decision to auction 60 expensive official cars and a presidential jet to curb excessive government expenditure, many lauded her as a president who inspires hope.” Reads the statement against her name.

The story among others, has presented one of the famous quotes of the people featured with the following for JB:

“It is my view that there is an urgent need in our country to change the way we do things.”

The recognition also crosses the lines to arts and culture where South Africa’s Zahara and Nigeria’s D’ Banj (Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo) are singled out among others.

Among other awards, the Malawi President has been honoured with “Hunger Project Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End to Hunger” shared with Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, she is sculpted under the Dana Toomy” “Imaging Peace Project” for the Hall of Fame for championing women and children’s rights in 1997;

“International Award for Entrepreneurship Development “by the Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs and ECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1998; “100 Heroines Award”, from Rochester, New York in 1998; “Woman of the Year Award” from Nation Publications Limited in 1997-98; Certificate of Honour “ by the Federation of World Peace and Love in Taiwan in 1998;

“Role Models of Excellence” Award in 2005, Government/Civil Society Leadership Award by the American and African Business Women’s Alliance based in Washington DC;” Rita Hauser Award,” in 2008 in New York; International Award for Health and Dignity Women” from Americans for UNFPA;

“Award of Recognition,” by the Black Mayors Caucus in 2009; “Life Time Achiever Award by the Rehoboth Trust in 2009; “Woman of Substance Award,” by African Women Development Fund in 2010; and listed as Africa’s Third Most Powerful Woman,” in 2011.